Police say it appears the motorcycle may have tried to pass a truck on Route 31 at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when the operator lost control. The motorcycle may have clipped a car before the rider was thrown more than 40 feet.

The rider was found unresponsive at the scene.

The Fitchburg man, whose name was not immediately released pending notification of family, was taken to a Leominster hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 8 p.m.